G1 Who Is My Neighbour

Description

Aim: To introduce the concept of a Global Family and our responsibility for and to each other. Introduction: In many representations of society in the media young people are taught to look out for themselves and to make sure they are number one. This topic looks at our responsibilities as global citizens. Taken from the BB Company Section Discoverer Pro Pack, Community, Christian Faith G1

Resources

Activity 1
• Pens
• Calculators
• Photographs

Activity 2
• Flip chart
• World map

Activity 3
• Bible

Instructions

Activity 1 - Poverty

Aim: To explore what makes young people happy in terms of physical & emotional needs and understand why some young people are denied what they need to make them happy.

Instructions:
• Ask one of the young people to click their fingers every 1-2 seconds. What do the young people think that represents?

• Malnutrition kills approximately one person every 1-2 seconds1 38 people every minute. Get the group to work out how many people is that each day? (55,000 per day)

• If a jumbo jet carries 350 people, how many would need to crash each day to kill 55,000 people? If that many planes crashed, it would be on every news channel, but we don’t put malnutrition deaths on the news each day. Why do the young people think that is the case?

• Place the following facts before the young people:

Each year about 20 million people die from malnutrition and 50% of these have not reached their 5 birthday.

The industrialised world has 20% of the world’s population and uses 80% of the world’s resources.

The developing world has 80% of the world’s population and uses 20% of the world’s resources.

• Discuss with the young people their reaction to these statistics.

• Ask the young people — What makes you happy? Record their answers on a flip chart.

• Show photographs of children in a developing country. Pictures are available from the internet which may be used along with details about recent emergencies from Aid Agencies.

• Read out the following list:
Happiness is:
— Love and care from family and others
— To play and relax with family and friends
— To have a say and be listened to
— Safe water and food and a clean environment
— Good health and health care
— To learn and go to school
— To live free from danger, violence and war

• Discuss if these points are the same as the young people stated earlier. Discuss the differences.

• There are currently 100 million children worldwide who miss out on school and for most no education means a life of poverty. Do we appreciate the right to a free education?

• Complete the session by asking if there is anything that can be done or are problems like this just too big?

Activity 2 - It's Not Fair

Aim: To look at the problems we face and try to relate these to issues faced by young people around the world.

Instructions:
• Ask the young people about times they have said, “It’s not fair.” Often when they were younger it would have been about tidying rooms, things that brothers or sisters had done. As we get older do we change?

• What things do adults say is not fair? Salary, wor1ing conditions, results in sports etc.

• We can all be guilty of thinking that life isn’t far and that someone has a better deal than us,

• Ask the young people to consider the facts shared last week.

Children who have lost one or both parents, 1997-98

• This map shows the numbers of children in African countries who have lost one or both parents to the Aids epidemic. (see attachment)

• Many live on the streets and have no one to care for them.

• Compare this with the things that we put on our list of being ‘not fair.

• Is there anything we can do or again is this a problem that is far too large?

Activity 3 - What Can We Do ?

Aim: To consider our response to the issues of the world and to realise that by doing something It can make a difference.

Instructions:
• Read together Matthew 25: 31-40.

• Jesus is telling us that his Kingdom, which will eventually bring salvation and justice to all, is even now concerned with the poor and underprivileged. He expects those he has called and commissioned to represent that kingdom on earth to share his concern.

• From what the young people have learned and experienced in the 2 previous sessions, how do they want to respond?

• Do not compel anyone, but listen to their suggestions.

• It might be that the young people may wish to respond financially, by raising money for a particular project. They should decide on the project and how the money is raised.

• They might want to raise awareness in the church magazine or a poster for the notice board.

• If there is a specific response ensure that sufficient time is allowed for the young people to plan this.

• Remind the young people that a powerful tool is to pray for these situations.

• Ask if there are specific things to pray for or if anyone would like to lead in prayer.

Tips / Advice:
Individual churches may well be involved in supporting the work of an agency and could find extra resources from this.

For full details and graphics see the BB Company Section Discoverer Pro Pack, Community, Christian Faith G1